James "Big Jim" Smith, Jr., 66, of Pineville, Louisiana, passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at M. D. Anderson Medical Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. James (Big Jim) Smith, Jr. will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 19, 2009 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Bruce Miller officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park, under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Pineville.
Mr. Smith was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church; a graduate of Pineville High School, LSU and Troy State. He received his ABD from the University of Georgia. He was an adjunct professor of Public Administration and Management.
He was very involved in his community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Ward 9 Recreation Park, former Director of the Volunteers of America of Central Louisiana and other key positions in various social service programs. Mr. Smith served in the Louisiana National Guard.
For over 28 years, along with his family he was the owner and operator of the largest independent retail fireworks business in Central Louisiana, "Big Jim's" Fireworks, located on Military Highway in Pineville. ~ read more
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